Innovation Domains for Driving Transformation and Rural Development: The Case of Smallholder Dairying in Zimbabwe

Dairy production in tropical regions has a lot of growth potential but also presents a series of challenges. Smallholder dairy production systems the world over are also heterogeneous and consist of a large number of farmers with different technical characteristics, socio-economic circumstances and institutional attributes. This chapter explores broad global issues of innovation domains based on a survey of 227 households from Rusitu and Gokwe smallholder dairy projects in Zimbabwe. The study uses a multivariate analysis approach and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in identifying eight major components, while subsequent analysis using Cluster Analysis identified five distinct innovation domains. These innovation domains included smallholder dairy producers, smallholder dairy heirs, new and emergent producers, smallholder dairy pioneers, and commercial and market-oriented producers. The survey established that innovation domains with higher levels of participation in smallholder dairy innovation platforms had higher rates of dairy technology adoption (p < 0.01). The net effects have been higher estimated annual dairy incomes, with commercial and market-oriented producers having estimated total dairy gross incomes of USD4,726 compared to averages of USD2,895 for all innovation domains. This has implications for household socio-economic well-being, re-investment capacity and agricultural development.